Open Book Blog Hop – 2nd December

Tags

writing

This week the topic is:

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

There’s actually two things that I’d give up.  The first one would be my job as a medical secretary so that I could concentrate totally on writing.  Unfortunately that’s not possible as I need to earn money like everybody else, and I currently earn more as a medical secretary than I do as a writer.  However, my main job is not half as interesting as being able to sit in peace in my own front room and write whatever comes into my head!  I must say that I’ve learned a great deal by working at the hospital though, and so it’s not all doom and gloom.

The other thing I’d give up is having a presence on social media.  Having to check various sites and promote my books is a drag, a distraction, and a huge time suck.  I do like blogging though, and would probably keep my WordPress site.  I’ve already closed my Facebook account, but I realise that Indie authors would have trouble selling any books at all without the help of social media sites such as Twitter etc.

What would other blog-hoppers give up?  Click on the blue button below to find out.  This is a scheduled post as we’re busy packing up our possessions at the van and moving into a new one, so I’ll get back to any comments a bit later in the week.

Rules:

1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Open Book Blog Hop – 14th October

Tags

writing

Hi all.  This is a scheduled post this week, as I’m currently away.  The topic today is:

What is your preferred method of writing? (by hand, on a computer, dictate it?)

I usually outline the plot in longhand in a notebook first, where I also add details about all the characters.  I find this helps if I become stuck with the story or can’t remember hair colour/eye colour etc, as I can then read my notes and know where to go next.

Once the plot has been put on paper, then it’s time to type each chapter up on the computer.  I have an 8.5 x 5.5 template that I type straight on to.  I used to type the story just in  Word, but now I use the template.  It saves on formatting bills.  I never used to be able to line up all the page numbers properly on Word, but with my magic template, anything is possible, lol!

Due to the kind of job I do, I can type faster than I can write in longhand, so the computer is my preferred method of writing every time.

What are other blog-hoppers’ preferred writing methods?  Click on the blue button below to find out, or simply add a comment or even your own blog post.

Rules:1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Open Book Blog Hop – 19th August

Tags

literary success, writing

This week the topic is:

“What does literary success look like to you?”

To me it looks like Stephen King, J.K Rowling, and E.L James to name but three!  They’ve made a success of their literary careers, and can live off the money they earn from book sales and film rights.

Hey ho,  but for those in the higher echelons of success there are also millions striving for the same success currently having to be satisfied with selling the odd book or two.  For us lowly mortals it’s a success to sell one or two books per week, so success is all relative to where you are in the pecking order.

Would those three at the top of the pile feel they are not as successful if their book sales start to dwindle to thousands rather than hundreds of thousands/millions?  I would be in seventh heaven if I sold thousands of books, but maybe Mr King et al would start to panic at the sudden downturn in sales?

Sam and I have other work that puts food on the table and pays the bills, but it’s always a little thrill if I see even one of my books has sold.  We can’t all be at the top of the pile, but it isn’t so terrible languishing lower down – it’s just a case of suck it up and accept it!

What do other bloggers see as literary success?  Click on the link below to find out or just add a comment:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Rules:

1. Link your blog to this hop.

2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.

3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.

4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.

5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.